You could say that Spike Lee always had a special connection to Michael Jackson: They were born a year apart, both to musical families. Back in the day, every Saturday morning, Lee, like many other black kids across the country, sat down in front of the TV, glued to the “Jackson 5” cartoons.

“We’re of the same era,” Lee told The Root. “I wanted my Afro to be perfectly round like Michael’s, all that stuff.”

Years later, the two ended up working together, collaborating on a music video for “They Don’t Care About Us” in Brazil. The two never worked together again, but Lee found himself hit hard by Jackson’s death.

So he decided to throw Michael a birthday party.

Not just any birthday party: A “Brooklyn style block party,” Lee says. “It’s going to just be how we do it, Brooklyn style, I’ll leave it at that. It’s going to be a joyous, festive, celebratory party.” Free.

Anybody and everybody is invited to attend Michael Jackson’s 51st birthday party on Saturday, August 29, from noon to 5 p.m., at Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York. DJ Spinna will be spinning all things Jackson, from the Jackson 5 to the Jacksons to Michael Jackson. The Brooklyn borough president will be on hand to declare Aug. 29 “Michael Jackson Day.”

“At the end, we’ll all sing Happy Birthday to Michael,” Lee says. “We’re going to make sure he hears us, too. All over the world, people are going to be celebrating his birthday. But he’s going to hear Brooklyn; Brooklyn is going to be in the house. Deep.”